He was quiet, even for an Indian baby; unnaturally quiet, she thought. [Page 88.]
The mother had gone at once to look for Young Eagle, so that for the minute she and Miss Morrison and the baby were all alone in this strange, confused place. There was no chance to sit down, even, and altogether it was queer and uncomfortable.
“They must have a doctor at once,” pronounced Miss Morrison. Then she fidgeted a little, and looked at her watch.
“What shall we do, dear?” she exclaimed. “I have only just time to catch my train if I start at once; and I must get back early. Yet I don’t know how to leave you here by yourself.”
“But I am quite safe,” Stella answered, rather absently, her soft eyes on the sick baby’s apathetic face. “Young Eagle can take me to the station to meet the others.”
“Then don’t fail to get there by half-past five, and wait for them in the small waiting-room. If they get a good doctor, it will be all right. You’re sure you won’t come with me? Then good-by, dear.” And Stella was left alone.
After long minutes, during which she did what little she could for baby’s comfort, the young husband and wife appeared, he looking rather sulky and shamefaced, but nevertheless yielding to the peremptory orders, issued in crisp Dakota, of the tall, grave-faced girl in White, who had thrown off her hat and was taking full command of the situation. Blue Earth obediently washed some of the vermilion from her round cheeks, and rolled up a corner of the tent to let in the fresh air, crooning over all her troubles meanwhile to this strangely sympathetic listener, who seemed, with the unexpected demand upon her, to have grown years older in the last hour.
When the doctor came at last, it was already too late for the train; but that Yellow Star did not realize at once. To tell the truth, she had forgotten all about Laurel for the time being, and was back among the simple, lovable, swarthy folk of her earliest recollections. She listened intently to the doctor’s words, which she interpreted with care and intelligence.
“Now, Doctor,” said she, after administering the first spoonful of medicine with her own hand, and giving the docile young mother her final instructions, “if you will come with me and Young Eagle, please, we must find the man in charge and tell him that Blue Earth and the baby can not be in the show again until he is well.”